Cockburn's Special Reserve Port Re-Launched for 21st Century

In 2010, Cockburn's celebrated its 195th anniversary by returning to family ownership and is now benefiting from major quality improvements as well as an investment program by Symington Family Estates, the leading premium quality Port producer.

The Symington family has made significant improvements to the wine. While the Cockburn's full-bodied palate and distinctive dry finish have been preserved, the wine has been enhanced with more profound fruit and better structure. Cockburn's Special Reserve has always been aged in seasoned oak vats and tonels longer than most other Reserves and this aspect has been maintained, the additional maturity in wood giving this wine its special identity.

Paul Symington, Joint Managing Director of Symington Family Estates, comments, "We are committed to reviving the fortunes of this iconic Port brand by restoring the quality that was the hallmark of its heyday. Cockburn's has gone back to its roots in the Douro vineyards."

The re-launch includes the introduction of a new bottle design. The slender shape, rounded shoulders and long, generous neck of the new embossed bottle was created by London based agency Bloom. Symington's Marketing Director Henri Sizaret adds, "Cockburn's is well remembered by many for its iconic bottle design, so we have based this work on the much-loved Cockburn's classic original of the '70s."

Cockburn's Special Reserve has been a benchmark for all reserve Ports since its inception in 1969. The range also includes Late Bottled Vintage, 10 and 20 Year Old Tawny, Quinta dos Canais, Vintage Port and Ruby, Tawny and White.

Historical Note

Until the introduction in 1969 of Cockburn's Special Reserve, generations of consumers had only drunk Ruby Port. Virtually the only exception was a small annual sale of Vintage Port for the better off. Cockburn's Special Reserve was nothing short of revolutionary, creating an entirely new market for a smart but affordable, premium quality Port.

The impact of Cockburn's Special Reserve on the Douro region was profound as the demand for better quality grapes quickly grew. Vineyards were renewed and new ones planted. The face of this historic region was entirely changed, improving the livelihood of countless farmers and their families while proving to be central to the economic development of the Douro region.